The 2011 Grammy nominees were announced last night. Eminem leads the pack with 10 nominations while Bruno Mars came in at a distant Second with seven. Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, and Lady Antebellem each received six nominations. And rounding out the big nominees were John Legend and B.oB with five.
Don’t worry, however. Rihanna, Drake, and Katy Perry also earned nominations for their work. Check out some of the major categories and nominations with analysis and predictions after the jump.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- Recovery – Eminem
- Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
- The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
- Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
- The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
While Lady Gaga jumps off the screen as the clear favorite to win the night’s biggest award, don’t be so quick to write off everybody else. Both Lady Antebellum and Arcade Fire have a legitimate shot at taking home the title. Both albums were brilliant in their own right, receiving critical acclaim and charting well on Billboard.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
- “Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
- “Nothin’ on You” – B.o.B & Bruno Mars
- “Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
- “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum
- “F**k You” – Cee Lo Green
Each of these songs were huge— not just in the their popularity but in the way each song was put together. Artists, producers, and engineers are equally important in the recording of each song. Based on these criteria, “Empire State of Mind” and “Need You Now” seem to be the frontrunners for the award, but don’t be surprised if “Love the Way You Lie” comes from behind to snag the victory.
SONG OF THE YEAR
- “Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
- “F**k You”- Cee Lo Green
- “The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert
- “Beg, Steal, or Borrow” – Ray LaMontagne
- “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum
Song of the year is awarded to the best songwriter. “F**k You” kind of came out of nowhere and instantly caught on with its incredibly catchy hook, and before you knew it your friends and family were singing “fudge you” in three-part harmony. Keep a close eye on Miranda Lambert and Ray LaMontagne, who penned the lesser-known songs in the group. They have the potential to swoop in and take home the spoils.
BEST NEW ARTIST
- Drake
- Esperanza Spalding
- Justin Bieber
- Florence + the Machine
- Mumford & Sons
All artists in this category will likely fall victim to Bieber Fever. The kid is on fire right now. With huge record sales, an army of very loyal fans, and everybody in the music industry trying to get a piece of him, Justin Bieber has reached levels of stardom that would make even N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys jealous. However, don’t count out Drake, or even Florence + the Machine. They are very capable of pull off the upset here.
BEST RAP SONG
- “Empire State Of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
- “Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
- “Not Afraid” – Eminem
- “Nothin’ on You” – B.o.B & Bruno Mars
- “On to the Next One” — Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz
“Not Afraid” was a smash hit and probably the most popular song off Eminem’s album Recovery. Eminem’s songwriting ability and lyrical genius should get him the nod. But, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys are lurking in the shadows and might very well come away with the award, as “Empire State of Mind” is also a brilliantly written song that spent countless weeks on the Billboard charts in 2009 and 2010.
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
- My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
- I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle
- The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
- Battle Studies – John Mayer
- Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
Right off the bat you have to give it to Justin Bieber simply because he is Justin Bieber. However, you must ask is My World 2.0 a better album than the four other albums in this particular category? Conquering the likes of Lady Gaga, Susan Boyle, John Mayer, and Katy Perry is no easy feat. Look for either Katy Perry of Lady Gaga to sweat out Bieber Fever just in time pick up their award for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Check out the rest of the nominees here.
